Many people have expressed an interest in astrology, and especially Buddhist Astrology. Astrology has been a part of Buddhism since Lord Buddha Shakyamuni first taught the Kalachakra Tantras 2,500 years ago. x

The month has Uranus square Pluto and Jupiter as a constant effect on you. The first week has Venus also conjunct Pluto in that square so the advice is to definitely go slowly. Reason is Uranus makes you jumpy and Jupiter only increases that effect. The Pluto influence adds grumpiness and dissatisfaction to the equation. So slow down, be thoughtful and a lot of the influence will pass you by. Astrology is only an influence and mindfulness is the umbrella that protects you.

Aries Buddhists love to be motivators. This month I would suggest you watch your actions carefully. Be aware of interdependence and appreciate those that help you.

TAURUS (April 20 May 20)
This month I would recommend going slowly. The Sun sits square to Taurus. This is not a curse it is more like rainy weather. Astrology is an influence and it only gains access to you if you lack mindfulness. If it was raining today and you forgot your umbrella, you merely get wet. If the aspects are not supportive then just be mindful that you are in samsara. That protects you from agitation.

Taurus Buddhists love to be grounded and practical. This month be present to what transpires in your immediate environment. Speculation would not be useful as it opens the door to superstition and anxiety. Be present and compassionate.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)
This month things go well. The Sun, Uranus and Mars all support you from a distance. These become secondary influences to help you be happy and feel comfortable. What is powerful for you is the presence of Mars and Uranus, both energetic planets. So do powerful actions but with sensitivity of the wishes and feelings of others. Be a little careful in the first week of erroneous ideas as Mercury and Neptune are square. That will diminish as time passes.

Gemini Buddhists are quick on their intellectual feet. This month be friendly and inspirational. Gemini has intellectual capacity, so share your wit and sense of humor with others.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)
This month Jupiter sits in a square with Uranus and opposite Pluto. Jupiter tends to be a beneficial influence but with Uranus square you could be easily agitated or rash. So be mindful of your actions and don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. Your mood will play a significant role in the decisions you make and so keep your emotional life on the positive side of the fence. Do that by appreciating you exist because of your interdependence with the totality of existence. You are 100% interdependent and so offer good feelings and positive actions to all that supports you.

Cancer Buddhists normally work with feelings. This month you are going to practice Bodhicitta in all your actions. Focus on being happy and learn how to express that. Happiness is like gasoline for the Mahayana vehicle. May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes.

LEO (July 23 – August 22)
This month you might have an enlightening moment as the month closes. The Sun and Neptune will sit in a conjunction and that is great for profound insights. The only requirement is not to be materialistically focused. Materialists may find they are confused and lack focus. People with a spiritual vision will see the expanse of the sky as never before. It will develop as the month progresses so keep you spiritual eyes open.

Leo Buddhists like to be motivators. This month look at the world with the eyes of a yogi/yogini. Keep your vision on the grand scheme of things, not the little details.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

Mercury and Neptune are opposite your sign to give you positive insights into the nature of life. This will continue for the first week of the month. As you arrive at the last three weeks it is good to stop activity and meditate more. Mercury will go retrograde and the Sun will run in opposition to Virgo. This can cause one to be skeptical or confused, so be careful of a negative superstitious perspective.

Virgo Buddhists do things in an orderly manner. This month keep an eye on your moral conduct so you don’t feel badly with unskillful actions you might make. Remember guilt is a double negative whereas regret helps you avoid the problem again in the future.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)
This month you are much more happy and expressive of joy. Mars is in Libra and Uranus and the Sun sit beneficially aspected to your Sun sign, so enjoy yourself. Be happy, share good feelings and know that by the last week of the month you will be exuding love and playfulness to everyone. This is because of the Moon conjunct Mars and being well aspected to Neptune.

Libra Buddhists keep life in balance. This month you feel great and your affection for everyone is growing. Be careful of how strongly you express affection, it could cause some people to misinterpret your warmth.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)
This month slow down a little. The Sun sits square your Sun sign and so you might get a little confused. Be mindful of information you are fed by others. It could stimulate you into action but the activity does not accomplish what you want. Slow down and listen carefully and think twice before acting. What is beneficial is Saturn is in Scorpio and for Buddhists this is a blessing. Saturn is supportive of meditation and contemplation.

Scorpio Buddhists are passionate. This month you have to be careful of feeling frustrated. You are prone to seeing obstacles where they don’t exist. Granted samsara is an obstacle to true happiness so don’t worry, just be realistic about what you do.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)
This month does not have any planets in Sagittarius but the Sun, Uranus and Mars are beneficially positioned to help you. So use your intuition and intelligence to deal with the situations you encounter this month. As the month draws to a conclusion slow down and be careful of what you decide to do. Neptune and the Sun will be square to Sagittarius. Just be mindful what you plan to do and all will be fine.

Sagittarius Buddhists are inspired individuals. This month don’t plan anything too grand. Just focus on the simple things in life and be of benefit wherever you find yourself.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

Feelings are still important as Pluto is in your sign for ages to come. The month there is intensity as Venus is together with Pluto in Capricorn. This is a little complicated because Jupiter is opposite and Uranus is square to Pluto. Be mindful of what you do and don’t let moodiness make things more complicated. Shamata types of meditation are good to lighten the load of a moody despondent day.

Capricorn Buddhists reflect and contemplate on decisions. This time your mind is working overtime with feelings. Therefore slow down and meditate on peace and the with “May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.”

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)
This month it is your birthday. The Sun runs smoothly in Aquarius till the last week of February. This is increased with Mercury in your Sun sign during the last weeks. Be a little careful of over emphasizing your point of view. Mercury is going retrograde and this can cause you to have misleading intuition. Use your wisdom to review the insights you experience.

Aquarius Buddhists are sociable beings. This month universal responsibility is so obvious to you it is hard to understand why everyone is not working for social justice and human rights. Be mindful of your speech, it is both a source of blessing and also a weapon that inflames situations.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)
This month you are inspired as you have never felt before. Initially you don’t think anything special will happen this month but by mid month all the rules of the game change. Be prepared to become the catalyst of change. Do it skillfully though. Radical change upsets people, so do it with grace and poise.

Pisces Buddhists are sensitive and introspective. This month all that falls by the wayside and you are inspired to change things dramatically. It may be on a personal level or it may be in your immediate environment. Be mindful of the impact you have on others and don’t forge ahead without being thoughtful first.

This month starts with a lot of energy that might not go in the right directions. You have Mars, Pluto, Jupiter and the Sun all square or opposite Uranus in Aries. It is not the end of the world but do be more mindful for the month. The Sun and Mars will move away quickly from this aspect but Jupiter, Pluto and briefly Venus will all remain in a T square position. So Mindfulness in all actions, coupled with Wisdom and Compassion are your best assets for January of 2014.

Aries Buddhists love to be motivators. This month just go a little slower and be mindful of being in a rush and making bad decisions. Therefore reflect on the interdependent nature of life and know that a positive motivation inclusive of others is the cause of all happiness.

TAURUS (April 20 May 20)

This month there are no planets in your Sun sign. This is a good opportunity to mention that life is not just your astrology chart. The more mindful and aware you are, the more you have freedom from all aspects of influence. For example the male and female Bodhisattvas and the Buddhas are part of the world and involved in the interplay of influences but they remain clear minded and of a beneficial nature. Keep this in mind and you will find inspiration to live a meaningful life.

Taurus Buddhists are practical but this month you have a mixture of support and complication. Some planets are harmoniously aspected from a distance and others are inharmoniously aspected. Therefore do your best on a moment to moment basis in a practical manner.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)

This month there are no planets in your Sun sign. This is a good opportunity to mention that life is not just your astrology chart. The more mindful and aware you are, the more you have freedom from all aspects of influence. For example the male and female Bodhisattvas and the Buddhas are part of the world and involved in the interplay of influences but they remain clear minded and of a beneficial nature. Keep this in mind and you will find inspiration to live a meaningful life.

Gemini Buddhists are quick on their intellectual feet. This month there are good aspects from 4 planets during the month of January. First this includes Mars, Uranus and finally the Sun and Mercury. Basically do as you wish with positive mindful awareness.

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)

This month the Sun, Mercury, Pluto and Venus run in opposition. It can mean you could feel distracted and lost. The influence draws you out and makes your mind too busy. Therefore quietude meditation and peaceful thoughts and feelings are important. Motivate with compassionate feelings and all will be well. By the end of the month your affection will be strong as Venus and Pluto are conjunct and as Jupiter tends to be a happy planet in opposition to these two, things should be nice for you.

Cancer Buddhists normally work with feelings. This month meditate each morning and have a clear motivation. A good motive clarifies all emotional and intellectual confusion.

LEO (July 23 – August 22)

This month has the Sun and Mercury opposite your Sun sign. That means you have astrological influence to be busy and talkative. The last week the Sun moves into this position of opposition and the desire to be busy will be stronger. Therefore plan your days well and don’t let distraction get in the way. Keep your plans to the immediate things in front of you.

Leo Buddhists like to be motivators. This month slow down and be contemplative on the nature of samsara. Samsara is unreliable but we can work constructively with it by having a confident positive motivation.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22)

This month there is a sense of reflective contemplativeness as Neptune is opposite your Sign. That can help you meditate and be more visionary. It can be complicated though as Neptune can also cause illusions to develop. Therefore be careful of being too vague or idealistic when making plans. Astrology is only an influence and that influence depends on where you are currently putting emphasis. It is a good to put emphasis on wisdom, love and compassion. Those feelings help diminish a deluded mind.

Virgo Buddhists do things in an orderly manner. This month start the New Year with an inspiration to be of benefit to all around you. Motivation is important in all that we do.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22)

This month could be confusing for you. Mars is in Libra and Uranus is opposite to that. This can mean confusion and misguided energy are causing problems. Do things slowly and thoughtfully. Be reflective and contemplative. Samsara is a place to learn lessons but if you are wise enough the lessons are not too painful.

Libra Buddhists keep life in balance. This month balance outer life with a clear minded inner life.

SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21)

This month Saturn is in your Sun sign. Therefore do things that bring others into your life in a positive manner. You have to be careful of your communication skills for the first week as Mercury is square Saturn in Scorpio. Be mindful of yourself and what you are going to say and things will be fine. You have a lot of energy to express yourself, so express positive and supportive comments.

Scorpio Buddhists are passionate. This month you have a planet of Wisdom in your sign and so manifest it skillfully. Passion needs some checks and balances or it just becomes an indulgence.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21)

The month has lots of support from Mars and Uranus well aspected to Sagittarius. As the month ends the Sun and Mercury are in a good aspect and so plan on a better sense of self awareness in the last 10 days of January. Basically do as you wish and just be mindful of your motive.

Sagittarius Buddhists are inspired individuals. This month you are happy from the point of view of astrology, so do whatever seems most beneficial.

CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19)

This is the birthday month. Offer thanks to your parents for giving you this rebirth. They are the ones that really deserve the presents. You would not have met the dharma or the great teachers if you did not have this body. It is a good time to rejoice and offer thanks to all that support you. This month starts with energy to accomplish plans. Pluto, Mercury, Venus and the Sun are in your sign. Move with confidence in positive directions. Do be careful in the first week though as Mars and Uranus are square to the Sun and Pluto. Just be more mindful of rash or impulsive decisions and all will be fine.

Capricorn Buddhists reflect and contemplate on decisions. This month do all the things that are important, you have excellent energy and a happy point of view. Just be mindful though before you rush off and do something!

AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18)

This is the birthday month. Offer thanks to your parents for giving you this rebirth. They are the ones that really deserve the presents. You would not have met the dharma or the great teachers if you did not have this body. It is a good time to rejoice and offer thanks to all that support you. This month is great for communication. You have Mercury and the Sun in Aquarius in the last weeks. Be a little careful though as Mercury will be energetic with Mars and Uranus but fussy with a square from Saturn. That means you may have to clarify some of the things you said in the first two weeks.

Aquarius Buddhists are sociable beings. This month put more emphasis on mindfulness of speech. It will help you manage your high level of sensitivity.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20)

This month you carry on being spiritual and visionary. Neptune continues to bless you and has no negative aspects for the whole month. Therefore meditations of altruism, Bodhicitta are excellent. Your dreams will be pleasant if you go to sleep each night with a positive motive such as “May I help anyone I meet in my dreams”. It is an easy way to accumulate positive karma without a lot of work.

Pisces Buddhists are sensitive and introspective. This month focus on a clear minded approach to life. Love and compassion coupled with contemplation and intelligence help develop and maintain a clear mind.